TOULON — So what’s a committed Democrat and conscientious citizen to do in a place like Stark County on March 18, when races for key offices will be effectively settled in the Republican primary?

Do you stand by your party and cast a ballot that will ignore those important local races that stand to have an impact on the daily lives of yourself and your neighbors? Or do you bite the bullet and pull a Republican ballot?

“That’s one of those philosophical questions you wrestle with,” said Bob Mueller of Toulon, a retired school administrator who is vice chairman of the Stark County Board and the only Democrat on the eight-member panel.

“I’ve always considered myself a loyal Democrat, but my philosophical bent is being tested on this one,” Mueller said in reference to the primary that will decide races for judge, county clerk, county treasurer, and a County Board seat. “It’s a question that’s been going through my mind every day.”

Janet Kamerer, a Toulon librarian, had served many years as secretary-treasurer of the county’s Democratic Party. But it has been basically defunct since the death a few years ago of longtime chairperson Dee Townsend, she said.

“There really is no Democratic Party in Stark County anymore,” Kamerer said. “When Dee Townsend died, no one took it over.”

To be sure, some Democrats do get elected here. There typically has been one or two on the County Board in any given term, and State’s Attorney Jim Owens and Circuit Clerk Marion Purtscher have held their respective offices since 1992.

Owens is well known for not discussing his cases outside court, and he kept his voting cards equally close to the vest when asked if he might consider casting a Republican vote in the county races.

“That is an important question,” Owens said. “I’m going to have to give some thought to that.”

Purtscher didn’t seem to have much indecision. Among other things, she was concerned that Illinois’ system of establishing party identification through primary voting might interfere with future campaigns as a Democrat if she voted Republican in this one.

“I assume I would vote Democratic,” she said.

Kamerer said she also expects to stick to her party’s ballot in the booth that day.

“It will probably take me about 30 seconds,” she said.

Mueller, however, said he had come to view the local races as important enough to cross philosophical lines. His main concern is about an emergency that might arise that day, he joked.

Page 2 of 2 - “They might have to call 911,” Mueller said. “The election judge might have a heart attack if I ask for a Republican ballot.”

Gary L. Smith can be reached at (800) 516-0389 or glsmith@mtco.com. Read his Northern Circuit blog at pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Glsmithx.